Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghan air force cadets graduated from the officer candidate school at Pohantoon-e-Hawayee, or Air University, during a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 1, 2016.
The class of 195 graduates spent a year at PeH learning the English language, leadership and aviation studies.
The newly commissioned lieutenants will go on to fill positions in various career fields throughout the air force.
“We need educated professionals to become engineers, maintainers and pilots,” said AAF Lt. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, AAF commander, through an interpreter. “We need dedicated officers in all the different parts of the air force.”
With members of Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air (TAAC-Air) working with the AAF to ensure its longevity and helping to build upon its war fighting capabilities, now is a formidable time to become an officer in Afghanistan’s air force.
“I believe there is no better time to start your service in the Afghan air force,” said Brig. Gen. David Hicks, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and TAAC-Air commander, speaking to the graduating class. “In the years to come, Afghans like you will ensure a secure and stable Afghanistan.”
These young graduates will become leaders in the air force, using the skills they learned here to take it into the future.
“We wish to have young people with high energy and morale in the air force,” said Wardak. “Unity is important, and as long as we are united we will succeed.”
The next class, which has 110 students, is scheduled to graduate in the spring.